U.S. patent application number 14/106316 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-03 for reversible connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED. Invention is credited to Kentaro TODA, Yohei YOKOYAMA.
Application Number | 20140187097 14/106316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51017675 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140187097 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOKOYAMA; Yohei ; et
al. |
July 3, 2014 |
REVERSIBLE CONNECTOR
Abstract
A connector includes a plurality of contacts, which are held by
a holder member and are arranged in a pitch direction perpendicular
to a front-rear direction. Each contact has a terminal portion to
be connected and fixed to an object and a connection portion which
is, at least in part, held by a plate-like portion of the holder
member and is positioned forwards of the terminal portion in the
front-rear direction. The connection portion has a first contact
portion, a second contact portion and a rear connection portion.
The first contact portion is, at least in part, exposed on the
first surface. The second contact portion is, at least in part,
exposed on the second surface. The rear connection portion connects
a rear of the first contact portion with a rear of the second
contact portion and is connected to the terminal portion. When the
connector is mated with a mating connector, one of the first
contact portion and the second contact portion electrically
connects a mating contact of the mating connector to the terminal
portion.
Inventors: |
YOKOYAMA; Yohei; (Tokyo,
JP) ; TODA; Kentaro; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS
INDUSTRY, LIMITED
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
51017675 |
Appl. No.: |
14/106316 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/6467 20130101;
H01R 12/732 20130101; H01R 12/725 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/660 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/04 20060101
H01R013/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2012 |
JP |
2012-288184 |
Claims
1. A connector to be attached and fixed to an object, the connector
comprising: a mating end positioned at a front end of the connector
in a front-rear direction, the mating end being to be mated with a
mating connector which has a plurality of mating contacts; a holder
member including a plate-like portion which has a first surface and
a second surface; and a plurality of contacts corresponding to the
mating contacts, respectively, the contacts being held by the
holder member and arranged in a pitch direction perpendicular to
the front-rear direction, each of the contacts having a terminal
portion and a connection portion, the terminal portion being to be
connected and fixed to the object, the connection portion being, at
least in part, held by the plate-like portion and being positioned
forwards of the terminal portion in the front-rear direction, the
connection portion having a first contact portion, a second contact
portion and a rear connection portion, the first contact portion
being, at least in part, exposed on the first surface, the second
contact portion being, at least in part, exposed on the second
surface, the rear connection portion connecting a rear of the first
contact portion with a rear of the second contact portion and being
connected to the terminal portion, one of the first contact portion
and the second contact portion electrically connecting a
corresponding one of the mating contacts to the terminal portion
when the connector is mated with the mating connector.
2. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the connection
portion further has a front connection portion which connects a
front of the first contact portion with a front of the second
contact portion; and under a state where each of the contacts is
held by the holder member, the first contact portion, the second
contact portion, the front connection portion and the rear
connection portion of the contact form a single, closed path.
3. The connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the connection
portion forms the closed path before the contact is held by the
holder member.
4. The connector as recited in claim 3, wherein: the first contact
portion and the second contact portion extend in parallel with each
other; the front connection portion and the rear connection portion
are formed by bending; and in the pitch direction and an up-down
direction perpendicular both to the front-rear direction and the
pitch direction, the first contact portion and the second contact
portion are positioned away from each other.
5. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the first contact
portion and the second contact portion extend in parallel with each
other; the rear connection portion is formed by bending; in the
pitch direction and an up-down direction perpendicular both to the
front-rear direction and the pitch direction, the first contact
portion and the second contact portion are positioned away from
each other; and a front of the first contact portion and a front of
the second contact portion are not connected with each other.
6. The connector as recited in claim 2, wherein: the connection
portion is formed by bending a single elongated conductive
material; and the connection portion forms the closed path under
the state where each of the contacts is held by the holder
member.
7. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the contacts are
embedded in the holder member via insert-molding.
8. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the plate-like
portion has a thin portion and a thick portion; the thick portion
is positioned rearwards of the thin portion in the front-rear
direction; the thick portion is thicker than the thin portion in an
up-down direction perpendicular both to the front-rear direction
and the pitch direction; and the first contact portion and the
second contact portion are exposed on the thick portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] An applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of
Japanese Patent Application No. JP2012-288184 filed Dec. 28,
2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a connector with which a mating
connector is mateable even if the mating connector is relatively
reversed.
[0003] As shown in FIG. 18, JP-A 2008-508694 discloses a connector
(reversible plug) whose mating connector is a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) standard receptacle. The mating connector includes an
electric contact (mating contact) having a protrusion (contact
portion). The connector includes a plate spring (contact) and an
insulation cap. The plate spring is formed by bending a plate-like
member back and includes a first section and a second section. The
insulation cap is attached to an end of the plate spring, i.e., a
boundary portion between the first section and the second section.
The first section continues to a terminal portion which is to be
connected to a circuit board (not shown). On the other hand, the
second section is not electrically connected with sections other
than the first section. Namely, the second section is electrically
connected only with the first section.
[0004] When the connector of JP-A 2008-508694 is mated with the
mating connector, the insulation cap rides over the protrusion
(contact portion) of the electrical contact (mating contact) so
that any one of the first section and the second section of the
plate spring is brought into contact with the protrusion (contact
portion).
[0005] In the connector of JP-A 2008-508694, the second section is
almost same in length as the first section but is not directly
connected to the terminal portion. Therefore, various problems
might occur upon signal transmission.
[0006] For example, the connector of JP-A 2008-508694 is mateable
with the mating connector while the mating connector is under a
normal state or non-reversed state shown in FIG. 18 or under a
reversed state thereof. When the connector of JP-A 2008-508694 is
mated with the mating connector under the reversed state, the
contact portion of the mating connector is in contact with the
second section. Under the contacting state, the second section is
connected through the first section to the terminal section.
Therefore, an electrical path of a connection between the contact
portion of the mating connector and the terminal portion of the
connector becomes larger than another electrical path under the
normal state shown in FIG. 18. In other words, the connector of
JP-A 2008-508694 has a problem that a difference occurs between
electrical paths of connections between the contact portion of the
mating connector and the terminal portions under the normal state
and the reversed state so that signal transmission times for the
normal state and the reversed state are different from each other.
As described above, if a length of a signal transmission path
changes, transmission characteristics for high-speed transmission
vary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to
provide a connector which can be mated with a mating connector
under any one of the normal state and the reversed state while
lengths of signal transmission paths for both states do not have
differences that will substantially turn into problems.
[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a connector to
be attached and fixed to an object. The connector comprises a
mating end, a holder member and a plurality of contacts. The mating
end is positioned at a front end of the connector in a front-rear
direction. The mating end is to be mated with a mating connector
which has a plurality of mating contacts. The holder member
includes a plate-like portion which has a first surface and a
second surface. The contacts correspond to the mating contacts,
respectively. The contacts are held by the holder member and
arranged in a pitch direction perpendicular to the front-rear
direction. Each of the contacts has a terminal portion and a
connection portion. The terminal portion is to be connected and
fixed to the object. The connection portion is, at least in part,
held by the plate-like portion and is positioned forwards of the
terminal portion in the front-rear direction. The connection
portion has a first contact portion, a second contact portion and a
rear connection portion. The first contact portion is, at least in
part, exposed on the first surface. The second contact portion is,
at least in part, exposed on the second surface. The rear
connection portion connects a rear of the first contact portion
with a rear of the second contact portion and is connected to the
terminal portion. One of the first contact portion and the second
contact portion electrically connects a corresponding one of the
mating contacts to the terminal portion when the connector is mated
with the mating connector.
[0009] Since the aforementioned connector includes two contact
portions of the first contact portion and the second contact
portion, the connector can be connected with the mating connector
under either a normal state or a reversed state.
[0010] The connection portion of each contact of the aforementioned
connector includes the rear connection portion which connects the
rear of the first contact portion with the rear of the second
contact portion and is connected to the terminal portion.
Therefore, even when the aforementioned connector is mated with the
mating connector under any one of the normal state and the reversed
state, lengths of signal transmission paths for the states do not
have differences that will substantially turn into problems.
[0011] The second section of the connector of the above-cited JP-A
2008-508694 forms an open stub which has a relatively large size.
"Open stub" is an open end or a section at a dead end for
transmission path or current flow. Existence of such open stub is
not suitable for high-frequency signal transmission. On the other
hand, if the first contact portion and the second contact portion
form a part of a closed path, for example, as recited in the
original claim 2 of the present application, the connector has no
open stub which has a large size that turns problems on
high-frequency signal transmission. Therefore, the connector can
suppress degradation of signal quality.
[0012] An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention
and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by
studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and
by referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector and a
mating connector according to a first embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the connector is mated with the mating connector
under a normal state.
[0014] FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional view showing the connector
and the mating connector of FIG. 1, wherein the connector is mated
with the mating connector under a reversed state.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top oblique view showing a connector according
to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom oblique view showing the connector of
FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the connector of FIG. 3,
wherein the connector is attached to a circuit board.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top oblique view showing contacts and a holder
member which are included in the connector of FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a part of the contacts
and the holder member of FIG. 6.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a bottom oblique view showing the contacts and the
holder member of FIG. 6.
[0021] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a part of the contacts
and the holder member of FIG. 8.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the contact and the holder
member of FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a top oblique view showing the plurality of
contacts of FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 12 is an enlarged, oblique view showing one of the
contacts of FIG. 11.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the contact of FIG. 12.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a front view showing the contact of FIG. 12.
[0027] FIG. 15 is an oblique view showing an intermediate member
which is formed during a fabrication process of the contact of FIG.
12.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a side view showing a modification of the
contact.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a side view showing another modification of the
contact.
[0030] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector and
the mating connector of JP-A 2008-508694.
[0031] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by
way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and
detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the
invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector 110 according
to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached and
fixed to a circuit board (object) 10, while a mating connector 510
is attached and fixed to a mating circuit board 20. The connector
110 according to the present embodiment has a mating end 112 which
is positioned at a front end (negative X-end) of the connector 110
in a front-rear direction (X-direction) and is to be mated with the
mating connector 510. The connector 110 is mateable with the mating
connector 510 even when the mating connector 510 is upside down. In
other words, the connector 110 is mateable with the mating
connector 510 while the mating connector 510 is under a normal
state or non-reversed state shown in FIG. 1 or under a reversed
state shown in FIG. 2.
[0033] The illustrated mating connector 510 comprises a plurality
of mating contacts 520 made of conductor, a mating holder member
550 made of insulator, and a mating shell 590 made of metal. The
mating holder member 550 holds the plurality of mating contacts
520. The mating holder member 550 has separation portions 552 each
of which is positioned between neighboring ones of the mating
contacts 520 in a pitch direction (Y-direction). Each mating
contact 520 has a resilience and includes a mating contact portion
530 which is movable in a up-down direction (Z-direction) by using
the resilience thereof. The mating contacts 520, especially the
mating contact portions 530 and therearound, are protected by the
separation portions 552 which are provided close thereto in the
pitch direction. The mating shell 590 covers the mating holder
member 550.
[0034] The mating end 112 of the connector 110 according to the
present embodiment opens. The connector 110 further has a reception
portion 114. The reception portion 114 is positioned rearwards, or
towards the positive X-side, of the mating end 112 of the connector
110 and is to partially receive the mating connector 510. The
connector 110 comprises a plurality of contacts 120 made of
conductor, a holder member 150 made of insulator, and a shell 190
made of metal. The holder member 150 holds the plurality of
contacts 120. The shell 190 covers the holder member 150.
[0035] The holder member 150 includes a block portion 170 and a
plate-like portion 180 which extends forwards, or towards the
negative X-side, from the block portion 170. The plate-like portion
180 has a first surface (upper surface; positive Z-side surface)
182 and a second surface (lower surface; negative Z-side surface)
184 which is the back surface of the first surface 182. The
plate-like portion 180 has a thin portion 186 and thick portion 188
which is thicker in material thickness than the thin portion 186.
In other words, the thick portion 188 has a large size than that of
the thin portion 186 in the up-down direction. In the present
embodiment, the thin portion 186 is positioned forwards, or towards
the negative X-side, of the thick portion 188.
[0036] The illustrated contacts 120 are formed by punching a metal
plate out and are partially embedded in the holder member 150 via
insert-molding. Each contact 120 includes a connection portion 130
and a terminal portion 140. The connection portion 130 is held by
the plate-like portion 180 and forms a closed path. The terminal
portion 140 extends rearwards from the connection portion 130. The
entire connection portion 130 may not be held by the plate-like
portion 180. For example, a part of the connection portion 130 may
be embedded within the block portion 170. The connection portion
130 is positioned forwards, or towards the negative X-side, of the
terminal portion 140. In this embodiment, the terminal portion 140
is connected and fixed to the circuit board 10.
[0037] The connection portion 130 according to the present
embodiment forms the closed path even before the contact 120 is
held by the holder member 150, or before the contact 120 is
partially embedded in the holder member 150. The connection portion
130 includes a first contact portion 132, a second contact portion
134, a front connection portion 136 and a rear connection portion
138. The second contact portion 134 is positioned downwards, or
towards the negative Z-side, of the first contact portion 132. The
front connection portion 136 connects the front, or the negative
X-side, of the first contact portion 132 with the front, or the
negative X-side, of the second contact portion 134. The rear
connection portion 138 connects the rear, or the positive X-side,
of the first contact portion 132 with the rear, or the positive
X-side, of the second contact portion 134. The aforementioned
closed path is formed by the first contact portion 132, the second
contact portion 134, the front connection portion 136 and the rear
connection portion 138. The terminal portion 140 extends rearwards,
or towards the positive X-direction, from the rear connection
portion 138.
[0038] The first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion
134 extend along the front-rear direction. The first contact
portion 132 is partially exposed on the first surface 182 of the
plate-like portion 180. The second contact portion 134 is partially
exposed on the second surface 184 of the plate-like portion 180. In
detail, the first contact portion 132 and the second contact
portion 134 are partially exposed on the thick portion 188 of the
plate-like portion 180.
[0039] Because of exposure of the first contact portion 132 on the
first surface 182 and exposure of the second contact portion 134 on
the second surface 184, the mating contact portion 530 of each
mating contact 520 can be electrically connected to the terminal
portion 140 through any one of the first contact portion 132 and
the second contact portion 134 when the connector 110 is mated with
the mating connector 510.
[0040] As described above, the rear connection portion 138 connects
the rear of the first contact portion 132 with the rear of the
second contact portion 134 and is connected to the terminal portion
140. Therefore, even when the connector 110 is mated with the
mating connector 510 under any one of the normal state and the
reversed state, lengths of signal transmission paths for the states
do not have differences that will substantially turn into
problems.
[0041] In addition, since the first contact portion 132 and the
second contact portion 134 are formed as parts of the connection
portion 130 forming the closed path, an open stub that turns into
problems upon high-frequency signal transmission is not formed, and
degradation or instability of signal quality can be prevented.
[0042] The closed path may have various shapes such as square,
rectangle, triangle, polygon more angular than pentagon, elliptical
shape and track-like shape.
[0043] In the up-down direction, the size of the connection portion
130 is slightly larger than the size of the thick portion 188 of
the plate-like portion 180. Since the thin portion 186 is smaller
than the thick portion 188 for size in the up-down direction, or is
thinner than the thick portion 188, the thin portion 186 is smaller
than the connection portion 130 for size in the up-down direction.
Therefore, the connection portion 130 according to the present
embodiment is visible, as the front of the connector 110 is seen
along the front-rear direction.
[0044] As described above, because of existence of the thin portion
186, the mating contact portion 530 of the mating contact 520 rides
on the thin portion 186 and then rides on the first contact portion
132 or the second contact portion 134 when the connector 110 is
mated with the mating connector 510. Thus, the mating contact 520
is not deformed sharply. Therefore, the present embodiment can
reduce buckling of the mating contact 520.
Second Embodiment
[0045] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, a connector 210 according to
a second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of
the connector 110 according to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1
and 2) and is mateable with the aforementioned mating connector 510
along the front-rear direction (X-direction). The connector 210 is
attached and fixed to the circuit board (object) 10, as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector 210 according to
the present embodiment has a mating end 212 which is positioned at
a front end (negative X-end) of the connector 210 in a front-rear
direction (X-direction) and is to be mated with the mating
connector 510. The connector 210 is mateable with the mating
connector 510 even when the mating connector 510 is upside down.
The mating end 212 of the connector 210 according to the present
embodiment opens. The connector 210 further has a reception portion
214. The reception portion 214 is positioned rearwards, or towards
the positive X-side, of the mating end 212 of the connector 210 and
is to partially receive the mating connector 510.
[0047] The connector 210 comprises a plurality of contacts 220 made
of conductor, a holder member 250 made of insulator, and a shell
290 made of metal.
[0048] As understood from FIGS. 3 to 6 and 8, the shell 290 covers
the holder member 250. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the shell 290
includes a top portion 292, a bottom portion 294, a pair of
sidewall portions 296 and a pair of fixing portions 298. Each of
the top portion 292 and the bottom portion 294 extends long in a
pitch direction (Y-direction). Each of the sidewall portions 296
couples between the top portion 292 and the bottom portion 294 in
an up-down direction (Z-direction). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
top portion 292, the bottom portion 294 and the sidewall portions
296 form the above-described reception portion 214 substantially.
Each of the fixing portions 298 extends outwards in the
pitch-direction. The fixing portions 298 are used for fixing the
connector 210 to the circuit board 10 by soldering or by screws.
The illustrated fixing portions 298 are positioned between the top
portion 292 and the bottom portion 294 in the up-down direction. In
other words, the fixing portions 298 are positioned upwards, or
towards the positive Z-side, of the bottom portion 294. While the
connector 210 is received within a cutaway (not shown) of the
circuit board 10, the fixing portions 298 are fixed on the circuit
board 10. Thus, the connector 210 is low-profiled.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the holder member 250 holds the
plurality of contacts 220. The holder member 250 includes a block
portion 270 and a plate-like portion 280 which extends forwards, or
towards the negative X-direction, from the block portion 270. The
plate-like portion 280 has a first surface (upper surface; positive
Z-side surface) 282 and a second surface (lower surface; negative
Z-side surface) 284 which is the back surface of the first surface
282. The plate-like portion 280 has a thin portion 286 and thick
portion 288 which is thicker in material thickness than the thin
portion 286. In other words, the thick portion 288 has a large size
than that of the thin portion 286 in the up-down direction
(Z-direction). In the present embodiment, the thin portion 286 is
positioned forwards, or towards the negative X-side, of the thick
portion 288.
[0050] The illustrated contacts 220 are partially embedded in the
holder member 250 via insert-molding and are held thereby. The
holding arranges the contacts 220 in the pitch direction
(Y-direction). In this embodiment, some of the contacts 220 have
different sizes, or lengths, than others in order to shift timings
of contact with the mating contacts 520 to allow hot plugging.
However, their basic structures are same as each other.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, each contact 220 includes a
connection portion 230 and a terminal portion 240 which extends
from the connection portion 230. The connection portion 230 is held
by the plate-like portion 280 and forms a closed path. The entire
connection portion 230 may not be held by the plate-like portion
280. For example, a part of the connection portion 230 may be
embedded within the block portion 270. The connection portion 230
is positioned forwards, or towards the negative X-side, of the
terminal portion 240. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal portion 240
according to the present embodiment is connected and fixed to the
circuit board 10.
[0052] As best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the connection portion 230
according to the present embodiment forms the closed path even
before the contact 220 is held by the holder member 250, or before
the contact 220 is partially embedded in the holder member 250. The
connection portion 230 includes a first contact portion 232, a
second contact portion 234, a front connection portion 236 and a
rear connection portion 238. The front connection portion 236
connects the front, or the negative X-side, of the first contact
portion 232 with the front, or the negative X-side, of the second
contact portion 234. The rear connection portion 238 connects the
rear, or the positive X-side, of the first contact portion 232 with
the rear, or the positive X-side, of the second contact portion
234. The aforementioned closed path is formed by the first contact
portion 232, the second contact portion 234, the front connection
portion 236 and the rear connection portion 238. The terminal
portion 240 extends rearwards, or towards the positive X-direction,
from the rear connection portion 238.
[0053] The first contact portion 232 and the second contact portion
234 extend along the front-rear direction. The second contact
portion 234 is positioned downwards, or towards the negative
Z-side, of the first contact portion 232. Namely, the first contact
portion 232 and the second contact portion 234 are positioned apart
from each other in the up-down direction (Z-direction), similar to
the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 134 of
the contact 120 of the aforementioned first embodiment. Although
the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 134 of
the contact 120 of the aforementioned first embodiment are
positioned at positions same as each other in the pitch direction
(Y-direction), the first contact portion 232 and the second contact
portion 234 of the present embodiment are positioned at positions
different from each other in the pitch direction, as understood
from FIGS. 12 and 14, and do not overlap each other in the pitch
direction. For example, the contact 220 is formed by punching out a
metal plate to obtain an intermediate member 220' (see FIG. 15),
followed by bending the intermediate member 220'. In FIG. 15, each
of a width of a section 236' and a width a section 238' is
narrower, or smaller in Y-directional size, than a total width of
the first contact portion 232 and the second contact portion 234,
in order to achieve fine tolerances on punching process of the
first contact portion 232 and the second contact portion 234. When
the section 236' and the section 238' of the intermediate member
220' are bent and deformed so that the first contact portion 232 is
moved upwards, or towards the positive Z-side, while the second
contact portion 234 is moved downwards, or towards the negative
Z-side. Thus, the front connection portion 236 and the rear
connection portion 238 are formed. Then, the section 240' is bent
so that the terminal portion 240 is formed.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the first contact portion 232 is
partially exposed on the first surface 282 of the plate-like
portion 280, while the second contact portion 234 is partially
exposed on the second surface 284 of the plate-like portion 280.
The first contact portion 232 and the second contact portion 234
are partially exposed on the thick portion 288 of the plate-like
portion 280.
[0055] Because of exposure of the first contact portion 232 on the
first surface 282 and exposure of the second contact portion 234 on
the second surface 284, the mating contact portion 530 of each
mating contact 520 can be electrically connected to the terminal
portion 240 through any one of the first contact portion 232 and
the second contact portion 234 when the connector 210 is mated with
the mating connector 510.
[0056] As understood from FIGS. 6 to 8, the contacts 220 are
arranged in 2-fold rotational symmetry, or discrete rotational
symmetry of the second order, with respect to an axis which extends
parallel to the X-direction and which passes through a point that
is a midpoint of the plate-like portion 280 in the pitch direction
(Y-direction) and is also a midpoint of the plate-like portion 280
in the up-down direction (Z-direction). Because of the arrangement,
even if the mating connector 510 is reversed, the connector 210 can
be mated and connected with the mating connector 510.
[0057] As described above, the rear connection portion 238 connects
the rear of the first contact portion 232 with the rear of the
second contact portion 234 and is connected to the terminal portion
240. Therefore, even when the connector 210 is mated with the
mating connector 510 under any one of the normal state and the
reversed state, lengths of signal transmission paths for the states
do not have differences that will substantially turn into
problems.
[0058] In addition, since the first contact portion 232 and the
second contact portion 234 are formed as parts of the connection
portion 230 of the closed path, an open stub that turns into
problems upon high-frequency signal transmission can be reduced,
and degradation or instability of signal quality can be
prevented.
[0059] The closed path may have various shapes such as square,
rectangle, triangle, polygon more angular than pentagon, elliptical
shape and track-like shape.
[0060] In the up-down direction, the size of the connection portion
230 is slightly larger than the size of the thick portion 288 of
the plate-like portion 280. Since the thin portion 286 is smaller
than the thick portion 288 for size in the up-down direction, or is
thinner than the thick portion 288, the thin portion 286 is smaller
than the connection portion 230 for size in the up-down direction.
Therefore, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the connection portion
230 according to the present embodiment is visible, as the front of
the connector 210 is seen along the front-rear direction.
[0061] As described above, because of existence of the thin portion
286, the mating contact portion 530 of the mating contact 520 rides
on the thin portion 286 and then rides on the first contact portion
232 or the second contact portion 234 when the connector 210 is
mated with the mating connector 510. Thus, the mating contact 520
is not deformed sharply. Therefore, the present embodiment can
reduce buckling of the mating contact 520.
[0062] Although the present invention is explained concretely and
specifically with the first embodiment and the second embodiment,
the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the present
invention can be modified or applied in various ways.
[0063] For example, although the contacts 120, 220 of the
aforementioned embodiments are embedded in the holder members 150,
250 via insert-molding, the present invention is not limited
thereto. For example, the contacts may be press-fit into the holder
member.
[0064] Although each of the connection portions 130, 230 of the
aforementioned embodiments forms the closed path before the contact
120 or 220 is held by the holder member 150 or 250, the present
invention is not limited thereto. Provided that the connection
portion forms a complete closed path in the state where the contact
is held by the holder member, the connection portion may not form a
closed path before the contact is held by the holder member.
[0065] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, a contact 320 may be
formed by bending a single elongated conductive material. In the
contact 320, a connection portion 330 is constituted by a first
contact portion 332, a second contact portion 334, a front
connection portion 336 and a rear connection portion 338. A
terminal portion 340 extends from the rear, or the positive X-side,
of the first contact portion 332. As understood from FIG. 16,
before the contact 320 is held by the holder member, the rear
connection portion 338 is not fixed to a lower surface of the first
contact portion 332 so that the connection portion 330 does not
form a complete closed path yet. However, under the state where the
contact 320 is held by the holding member, the rear connection
portion 338 is fixed to the lower surface of the first contact
portion 332 so that the connection portion 330 forms the complete
closed path. With the contact 320 held by the holder member, an
open stub that turns into problems upon high-frequency signal
transmission is not formed. The rear connection portion 338
connects the rear of the first contact portion 332 with the rear of
the second contact portion 334 and is connected to the terminal
portion 340 under the state where the contact 320 is held by the
holder member. Therefore, even when the connector is mated with the
mating connector under any one of the normal state and the reversed
state, lengths of signal transmission paths for the states do not
have differences that will substantially turn into problems.
[0066] Although the connection portion 130, 230 or 330 forms the
closed path in order to reduce an open stub that turns into
problems, the closed path may not be formed, provided that a
difference between transmission paths is limited so as not to turn
into problems.
[0067] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a contact 420 includes a
connection portion 430 and a terminal portion 440 which extends
from the connection portion 430. The connection portion 430
includes a first contact portion 432, a second contact portion 434
and a rear connection portion 438 which connects the rear of the
first contact portion 432 with the rear of the second contact
portion 434. Unlike the aforementioned embodiments or the
modification, the connection portion 430 does not include a front
connection portion. In other words, the front of the first contact
portion 432 and the front of the second contact portion 434 are not
connected with each other so that the connection portion 430 does
not form a closed path.
[0068] The contact 420 is formed by punching a single metal plate
out, followed by bending the punched metal plate. Specifically, the
contact 420 is formed in a way similar to the contact 220 of the
aforementioned second embodiment (see FIGS. 12 to 15), except that
the contact 420 does not have a front connection portion, or that
the front of the first contact portion 432 and the front of the
second contact portion 434 are not connected with each other. The
first contact portion 432 and the second contact portion 434 of the
contact 420 extend along the front-rear direction. The second
contact portion 434 is positioned downwards, or towards the
negative Z-side, of the first contact portion 432. Namely, the
first contact portion 432 and the second contact portion 434 are
positioned apart from each other in the up-down direction
(Z-direction). The first contact portion 432 and the second contact
portion 434 are positioned at positions different from each other
in the pitch direction and do not overlap each other in the pitch
direction.
[0069] The rear connection portion 438 connects the rear of the
first contact portion 432 with the second contact portion 434 and
is connected to the terminal portion 440. Therefore, even when the
connector is mated with the mating connector under any one of the
normal state and the reversed state, lengths of signal transmission
paths for the states do not have differences that will
substantially turn into problems.
[0070] The present application is based on a Japanese patent
application of JP2012-288184 filed before the Japan Patent Office
on Dec. 28, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0071] While there has been described what is believed to be the
preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art
will recognize that other and further modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it
is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
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